By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
Who can have a civil marriage in Abu Dhabi?
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department runs a Civil Family Court that marries couples outside the religious courts. Its page lists the conditions in plain terms:
- Both parties consent.
- Both are at least 18.
- They are not close relatives.
- Neither is already married.
- Neither is a UAE citizen.
The page also says the couple do not have to be UAE residents, and that non-residents can apply online from anywhere. If one of you was married before, bring proof that the earlier marriage ended.
Rules change. Confirm eligibility with the court on 799 599 600 before you book flights or a hotel.
Abu Dhabi or Dubai: why visitors use the Abu Dhabi court
Dubai Courts runs its own civil marriage service with its own conditions. We have not confirmed them, so ask Dubai Courts directly. What the Abu Dhabi page does say is that residency is not required, which is why couples staying in Dubai plan a day in the capital.
Our wedding transport in Dubai guide covers the wider picture. For a full wedding in Abu Dhabi, see Abu Dhabi wedding transport from Dubai.
Documents and booking: what does the court ask for?
The court page lists:
- A copy of each passport.
- A copy of the Emirates ID, for any party who has one.
- Proof that an earlier marriage has ended, such as a divorce judgment or death certificate.
For the ceremony itself, bring the passports. Take originals as well as copies.
There are two booking speeds. The regular service costs AED 300 and depends on availability. The fast service costs AED 2,500 and lets you choose a date and time within court hours. The department also published a 2024 circular on documenting marriage contracts of non-Muslim foreigners, so ask the court whether it affects you.
Ceremony hours on the page are Monday to Thursday, 9:00 to 13:30, and Friday, 9:00 to 11:30.
The day plan: leaving Dubai, the ceremony and the photos
A day trip works like this:
| Time | Step |
|---|---|
| Early morning | Pickup in Dubai, with documents in hand |
| About 1 h 30 min later | Arrive in Abu Dhabi, 15 minutes before the slot |
| Appointment | Ceremony at the court |
| After | Photos, then lunch |
| Afternoon | Return to Dubai |
Central Abu Dhabi is about 139 km from Downtown Dubai and takes about 1 h 28 min without traffic. Rush hour adds time, so a slot at 9:00 means leaving Dubai before 7:00 on a weekday. Our Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer page covers the route, and the how to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi guide compares the options.
Where is the court, and where does the car wait?
The ceremony takes place at the Civil Family Court, in the main building of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department next to Zayed Sports City. The department’s listed address is Al Nawfal Street, Al Rawdah, Abu Dhabi.
Send the driver the appointment time and the building name. Ask the court where cars may stop and where a guest car can wait. We have not confirmed court parking, so do not assume it. Your driver can wait nearby and meet you after the ceremony.
A wedding car suits a couple who want the arrival to feel like an occasion. A plain car with driver is enough for two or three people and two witnesses.
After the ceremony: photos at the Grand Mosque, the Corniche or the Louvre
Abu Dhabi has three popular photo stops: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Corniche and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The mosque has dress rules and set photo stops. Read the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque visitor guide before you plan wedding clothes.
Our Abu Dhabi chauffeur service can keep the car with you for the afternoon. Agree the stops and the hours before you leave Dubai.
Attesting the certificate for use at home
Many countries want a UAE marriage certificate attested before they accept it. The steps depend on the country. Ask its embassy, and check the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the UAE side. We have not confirmed the steps, and Assure does not attest documents.
If you also plan a religious ceremony in Dubai afterwards, see church, temple and gurudwara wedding transport. For a wedding party at a Dubai resort, the Palm Jumeirah wedding venue arrival guide shows how arrivals work there.
Photos in this guide
A tree-lined walkway leading to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu DhabiGuilhem Vellut from Annecy, France / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
The stadium at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, next to the court buildingВалерий Дед / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
The entrance wall of the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat IslandDavide Mauro / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
